An Obligation To Report The Facts

July 18, 1985

FORMER PORT Everglades official Larry Dessler says he decided to resign his post as head of marketing, advertising and public relations because of ``continued malicious and false attacks`` by the News and Sun-Sentinel.

Dessler certainly is entitled to his opinion. However, we would like to make one point: If Dessler hadn`t attended classes at Barry Univeristy on port time, apparently in violation of port regulations, there would have been no story to report, and no pressure for a resignation.

Dessler has adopted a common tactic: When the message isn`t good, blame the messenger. People in news work have come to expect this tactic whenever an official`s conduct is questioned.

Many people in government would like newspapers to keep a low profile and function essentially as cheerleaders. Certainly, a newspaper has an obligation to report the positive things going on in a community, but newspapers that stop there do a severe disservice to their readers, and to the democratic institutions upon which this nation is founded.

The First Amendment gives newspapers considerable protection to do their job free from government interference. With that protection, however, comes the obligation to monitor aggressively the actions of those in power, and to report on what is going on -- good or bad.

We take this job seriously, as do all responsible newspapers, and when we print news critical of officials, we painstakingly strive to verify the facts. In many instances, the officials would prefer those facts not to be printed.

Newspapers, however, are in business to serve the people, not government officials.